Notebook: Managerial state of play after change at Bootle and Southport
All aboard the managerial merry-go-round with Bootle and Southport sparking change in the dugout - the latest from both clubs.
The hunt for the new Southport and Bootle managers have got underway.
It was a week of change at the Sandgrounders and the Bucks with managerial departures from both clubs.
On Wednesday, Jim Bentley and Port parted company in light of their 1-0 defeat to rivals Marine. And on Saturday, fourteen miles down the road, a similar scoreline to relegation-threatened Hanley Town ended Mick McGraa’s 18-month.
The former Vauxhall Motors boss led the Bucks to their highest-ever finish in the Northern Premier League West, losing to Prescot Cables in the playoff semi-final.
Under McGraa’s guidance, they staged a fightback during the second-half of the season - breaking into the top five.
However, after a promising start, their promotion hopes went off course during an excruciating blip. And since, they have tried to mount a similar fightback but couldn’t push through with their efforts derailed.
As a result, they have found themselves in a relegation battle after a downturn of results have saw them dragged into a scrap.
The end of the line for the former Vauxhall Motors manager came after Hanley, who sit second from bottom, picked up their fourth win of the season - their first away since August 24.
McGraa stepped away with the best wishes of the club and supporters at Vesty Road, with his achievements at Motors, including promotion from the Counties, and Bootle won’t be out of the dugout for long.
Meanwhile for the National League North club, it was a winning start for David Morgan. The midfielder took charge of the encounter with strugglers Rushall Olympic and a Luke Burgess double saw them move 13 points clear of the bottom four.
But there are big decisions to make from figures at Haig Avenue and Vesty Road. It is expected that the processes will accelerate over the coming days and weeks.
First, let’s head to Bootle.
Deja-vu for the Bucks
It’s almost two years to the day that Steve McNulty was an untimely departure at Vesty Road.